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NITED STATES y PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK J. I-IERRICK, `OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH du JUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BLANKET-BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,894, dated July 4, 1893. Application filed January 3, 1893. Serial No. l157,095l (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FRANK J. HERRIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Blanket-Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in blanket buckles; and the main objects of my improvements are to provide better means for securing the device upon the blanket, and in general to simplify the construction and to increase the efficiency of the article.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my buckle together with a portion of the blanket and straps. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of my buckle on the line fr of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same on the line 'y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section corresponding with Fig. 2 of my buckle as applied to a blanket but without the spring, and Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the buckle proper.

A designates the blanket, B the strap secured thereto to the ends of which the two parts of my buckle are secured.

The buckle proper or principal part is in the form of a frame having strap loops 6 at each end, side bars 7 7 connecting said loops, and a hook 8 at its lower end, one portion of said hook extending slightly in between the side bars so as to be in the same plane. In the preferred form I employ a spring 9, the bearing or holding portion of which presses upon the inside of the hook as shown in Fig.

2 at a point within the plane of the side bars while the free end of said spring extends beyond said bearing point to near the base of the hook S. In connection with this part I employ the fastening head 10 which is preferably in the form of an eye adapted to engage the hook 8. At its lower part is a cross bar for securing it to the free end of the strap B, while its middle portion at the upper end is narrowed and curved to fit under the hook 8 between the side bars as shown The buckle is specially adapted for use on horse-blankets as the parts lie so nearly in one general plane that the buckle will not hurt the animal even if it comes under him when lying down. By extending the spring beyond the point for bearing on the fastening head I am enabled to both attach and detach said head by pushing it endwise on the frame Without the necessity of touching the spring with the fingers or anything but the head itself.

I secure the main part of the buckle to the blanket by inserting the strap B through the upper loop 6 from the outside, then through the lower loop from the inside and double the end ofthe strap under the buckle. The combined strap and buckle is then stitched or sewed to the body of the blanket as shown. The fastening head 10 may be secured to the free end of the strap in an ordinary manner.

When the parts are engaged as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the strap will be drawn taut and have a tendency to prevent the parts from unhooking. If, however, they should tend to separate, the spring 9 bearing on the back of the hook 8 will prevent the fastening head from slipping upwardly so as to be detached from the hook. In order to detach the parts when thus secured, the fastening head 10 is pushed directlyupward until its narrow curved portion passes beyond the end of the hook so that it may be detached. To fasten the parts again, it is only necessary to place the curved portion of the fastening head 10 on the outwardly projecting point of the hook and then pull it downwardly sufficiently to draw it by the bearing point of the spring when the buckle will be again'fastened as shown.

The particular form of hook and fastening head herein shown is the preferred form, but it is evident that some parts of my invention may be employed and will be the same as herein shown and described, although other forms of heads and hooks are employed.

While I prefer in all cases to employ the spring 9, it is evident that precisely the same construction of buckle and fastening head may be employed without the spring, and when applied to a blanket as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the blanket will have a tendency to project outwardly toward the convex inner portion of the hook and serve the function of the spring. The reference herein to the posi- ICO tion of the buckle is used in connection with the position shown in the drawings. It is of course evident that the buckle may be placed in a horizontal position instead of a vertical one.

I claim as my inventionl. The herein described blanket buckle, consisting of the buckle proper having side bars 7, 7, and hook 6 between them curved inwardly near its end to the plane of said Side bars and having loops for securing it to the straps and the fastening head for use therewith having a narrow curved portion extending inwardly beyond t-he general plane of said head and adapted to engage said hook, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. A blanket buckle in which the buckle proper consists of sidebars and strap loops at each end, in combination Witha fastening head adapted to be hooked and unhooked to and from said principal part, and the spring 9 on the back of the buckle proper arranged between said side bars with its bearing or holding portion for confining said head thereon lying substantially Within the plane of said side bars substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

3. The herein described blanket buckle consisting of the buckle proper having side bars 7 7, end loops 6 6, the spring 9 and curved hook 8, and the fastening head for use therewith, having a narrow curved portion adapted to engage said hook, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

4. A blanket buckle consisting essentially of side bars and strap loops in combination With a fastening head adapted to be hooked and unhooked to and from said principal part, and the spring 9 on the back part of the buckle proper With its ends extended beyond the bearing or holding` portion which con lines said head thereon, all combined for attaching and detaching said head by its action on said spring under endwise pressure of said head substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

FRANK J. HERRICK.

Witnesses:

J. H. FRANCIS, SAMUEL STANLEY. 

